Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/189

 It would  be  acting  in  direct  opposition  to  St Paul's  injunction,  it  would  be  disturbing the peace  of  a  large  proportion  of  one's fellow-men,  of  all  faithful  children  of  the Catholic Church,  were  one,  for  instance,  to side  with  those  politicians  who  would  depose bishops  and  suspend  priests,  sup press religious  houses,  confiscate  their property, and  devote  churches  to  secular purposes.

5. There  are,  moreover,  questions  of  a mixed  character,  which  concern  ecclesiastical and worldly  affairs  at  the  same  time,  as  for instance education  and  the  marriage  relation. Both Church  and  State  have  an  interest in these  things;  therefore  they  both  ought  to arrange  them  in  harmony. Before all  things, this saying  applies:  "Render  therefore  to Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's;  and  to God  the  things  that  are  God's." It plainly belongs to  the  Church,  and  not  to  the  State, to decide  what  "things  are  God's,"  since  the Son of  God  Himself  appointed  the  former  to be  His  representative  upon  earth. Therefore a  loyal  Catholic  ought  never  to  sanction or lend  a  hand  to  the  encroachments  of  the State in  matters  which  the  Church  has  decreed to be  "God's."

6. A  true  Catholic  and  patriot  will  be  interested in  elections,  especially  when  there  is question  of  electing  men  to  important  offices in the  executive  and  legislative  branches  of the  government:  he  will  determine  his  vote